Bible Study D Sunday School

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Bible Study D Sunday School

Postby Dea » Thu Jun 19, 2014 12:22 pm

GOD’S LAWS OF SOWING AND REAPING
Dr.. Robert S. Hallett, TLC Ministries


Scripture Focus: II Corinthians 9:6-15

Key Verse: “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”(9:11)

Lesson Aim: To embrace God’s principle of sowing and reaping, and to realize that true riches goes beyond monetary value.

Related Scriptures: I Corinthians 16:1-4
II Corinthians 8 and 9
Matthew 6:19-24

SESSION OVERVIEW

God instituted a variety of laws that govern and control the universe. When we live in harmony with these laws, we live in blessing and freedom. But if we disbelieve or disobey these laws, we suffer frustration and failure.

As long as we are within its influence, the law of gravity will keep bringing us back to earth. When we try to break or defy that law, we are in for a rough landing. And as long as an airplane follows the laws of aerodynamics, it will fly. But when it violates those laws, the law of gravity takes over, whether that plane is in the air or on the ground.

Just as God has established physical laws to regulate and maintain our world, so He has also established spiritual laws that control and govern our relationships with Him and with those around us. It is our faithful adherence to these laws that will determine the extent and outcome of those relationships. And there are no exceptions.

Jesus and Paul both try to lead us from the physical laws of their agricultural world to the spiritual principles involved in the Kingdom.


CONCEPT ONE: SOWING AND REAPING
(II Corinthians 9:6,7)

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”


Principles that govern the laws of sowing and reaping:

1) You do not have to understand the law in order to benefit from it.

2) What you sow determines what you reap.

3) Sowing is an act of faith.

4) You reap more than you sow.

5) You reap in a later season than you sow.

6) What you don’t sow, you won’t reap.

7) Sowing and Reaping impacts the character of the believer.

Why must the church be so limited by the lack of funds? We, God’s people, have been given the key to God’s miracle of sowing and reaping. We must start the process. We must plant the seed.

Sowing represents taking a risk. What we give away is gone, released from our hands and from our control. It is the practical side of faith, where we believe it can do more good beyond our control than within our grasp. It is trusting God with the process, the progress, and the results.

The giving process can truly become a joy to our hearts when we settle the money issue with God, both the amount and the method.


CONCEPT TWO: SUPPLIES AND SHARING
(II Corinthians 9:8-11)

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”


Sowing and reaping is not a one-time occurrence, but it is a lifelong process. We are always sowing and always reaping, with a lot of overlap. Unlike the farmer, we do not wait for one crop to be harvested before we sow for the next one.

The harvest and the seed for future plantings are gathered together.

Let us be quick to recognize that an increase in harvest also means an increase in our store of seed.

The more we exercise good giving habits, the more our character develops in Christlikeness.

Since God has put His money into our pockets, He depends upon us to write His checks.

Whatever the amount of our income, it was never intended for totally private consumption.

In every harvest there is an additional supply of seed, and the greater the harvest, the more the seed. We dare not let the seed stop with us, for God intends for us to be “generous on every occasion.”


CONCEPT THREE: PRAISING AND PRAYING
(II Corinthians 9:12-15)

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”


Any good that is done for others is never wasted, whether they appreciate it or not. It produces a harvest of righteousness within those who gave it, and helps develop their character into true Christlikeness.

The ones who receive the most returned whatever ministry they could to their benefactors. They both prayed for them and gave them their heartfelt affection. The blessings of God are reciprocal – no one is to give all the time, and no one is to receive all the time. God intended that we each one have a way whereby we can bless others, whether it be by our giving or our praying, or something else.

In verse 15, Paul was referring to the relationship that develops between the giver and the one who receives. How wonderful a gift it would be for these to be bonded together in such beautiful affection!

The saints are bound together in mutual appreciation, affection, and support for each other. That gift would be welcomed in any church.

It is important to put into practice these laws of Sowing and Reaping, being assured of God giving the increase.

The laws of Sowing and Reaping must be followed as a whole in order to be effective – we cannot pick and choose.
Dea
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